WARRINGTON businesses have voted in favour of having a Business Improvement District (BID) for the town centre.
More than 400 businesses had the opportunity to approve or reject the five-year £1.8million private sector-led investment for Warrington town centre, with a majority (68%) of those who voted approving the BID, which will now come into place from August 2018.
Voting opened on 28 February and closed on 28 March.
Cllr Dan Price, Warrington Borough Council’s executive board member for culture and partnerships – who is responsible for town centre delivery – added: “I’m delighted with the decision.
“It endorses the progressive attitude of our town centre businesses and will further enhance the Warrington town centre offer as an attraction, shopping and visitor destination.”
Setting up a BID empowers businesses to undertake activities, projects and services that will make a town centre more economically vibrant, increase footfall and support the creation of a safer, cleaner and greener town centre.
Warrington joins more than 200 town and city centres across the UK who have chosen to implement successful BIDs since 2005.
Local examples of successful BID’s that are making an active, visible impact include those in Liverpool, Altrincham and Manchester.
The Business Improvement District in Warrington town centre represents a major change in how the town centre is managed enabling and empowering businesses to take control.
Dawn Smyth, Primark store manager and Chair of Warrington BID Team, said: “This is a great result. The ‘Yes’ vote empowers businesses and create a more vibrant and diverse shopping experience for all.
“Working together to improve marketing, events, transport, cleansing and security we can make a massive difference”.
1 Comment
It’s about time Warrington Borough Council did something to reverse the appalling decline it Warrington town centre.
As business rates have risen year on year over the past decade and more, successive administrations have encouraged the building of out of town retail developments, with heavily discount deals to attract sellers, the profitability of the town centre retail sector has been decimated. Even Golden Square has seen the effect our third world high streets.
Dozens of empty retail buildings have laid empty with the subsequent lack of income to the Warrington Council coffers. Bridge Street, Horsemarket Street, Sankey Street, and Buttermarket Street are now dominated by fast food outlets with all the associated litter and vermin problems…not a great advert for a council committed, supposedly, to healthy eating and healthier lifestyles.